Orientation of Magnets in an Object of A Series

ABSTRACT

The specific orientation of magnets within an object that allows for a series of objects to be engaged by the connection of positive magnetic poles to corresponding negative magnetic poles such that one object in the series may be rotated one hundred and eighty degrees about its vertical axis and still engage with the objects in the series.

FIELD

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61551829, filed 26 Oct. 2011. The present disclosure relates to the orientation of magnets within an object. An object with a magnet engaged with the main body of the object allows for magnetic engagement with similar objects that have similar magnets.

BACKGROUND

Objects engaged with a single magnet having positive and negative poles engage with identical objects when the objects are configured such that the negative pole of one magnet engages with the positive pole of the corresponding magnet. A series of identical objects may be engaged in this manner. In this manner of engaging objects it is not possible to rotate one object in the series of objects around its vertical axes and still connect or maintain the alignment due to the opposition of the magnetic fields. In other words, rotating one object in the aforementioned series of objects would orient a positive magnetic pole proximal to another positive magnetic pole and therefore the objects would repel rather than engage. Positive and negative magnetic poles are also referred to a north and south poles.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, each individual object comprises two opposing substantially flat surfaces. Each object comprises two longitudinal magnets in a horizontal configuration, with the long axis of the magnets perpendicular to said substantially flat surfaces. Each substantially flat surface has a positive and negative pole of the magnets proximal to the surface. An object in a series of such objects may be rotated about its vertical axis and still remain engaged with the series of objects.

Toys such as model trains often use single magnets with a positive pole on either the front or rear of the component and a negative pole on the opposing side of the component. Only one orientation of the train component may be employed in the series of components as is dictated by the positive or negative pole of the magnet engaged with the first component in the series.

The present invention offers improvements to the prior art by permitting the rotation of objects about the vertical axis while maintaining engagement within a series of identical objects.

The details of one or more variations of the instant subject matter are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the instant subject matter will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the instant subject matter and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed embodiments and implementations. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side diagrammatic view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section diagrammatic view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is diagrammatic view of a series of the objects of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating the rotation of the object and the maintained method of engagement between the object and the series of identical objects.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention including an application for the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded, perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an exploded, perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 illustrate the general location and orientation of magnets within an object of the present disclosure. One skilled in the art will recognize that such an orientation may be altered while still functioning within the parameters set forth in the description. In the detailed description positive and negative magnetic poles are referred to as north and south poles respectively for clarity in the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 an object 105 may be of a variety of shapes and is illustrated here as a rectangular solid in dotted line. The object 105 is engaged with at least two magnets 110 and 112. Each magnet 110 and 112 comprises a positive pole 114 and a negative pole 116. The magnets 110 and 112 are longitudinal and have central axes 111 and 113 respectively. The axes 111 and 113 are proximal to the center of the corresponding magnetic poles of magnets 110 and 112, and are parallel. Axes 111 and 113 reside a given distance apart illustrated by arrow 118. The location of the magnets and their respective poles are symmetrical about the center of the object 105. The distance from the boundary of the object 105 and the axes 111 and 113 are illustrated by arrows 124 and are equal. The distance from the magnetic poles and the proximal surface, represented by arrows 122 are also equal. The magnets 110/112 are also centrally located within the object 105 as illustrated by arrow 120 (FIG. 2). With respect to the present embodiment, objects are said to be identical, when the magnets are configured with the aforementioned equal dimensions and proportions.

Referring to FIG. 4, a side diagrammatic view of the series of objects of the embodiment of FIG. 1 depicts one object rotated from location A through orientation B to location and orientation C. One skilled in the art can recognize that the magnetic poles as of the object are engaged with the objects in the series both before and after the rotation of the object about its axis.

An application of the embodiment includes the arrangement of elements of an apportioned object. FIG. 5-FIG. 9 illustrate one application that includes a number of portions of motor vehicles that have a common cross section on one end.

FIG. 5 shows an iteration in which a toy car that employs the orientation of magnets is shown, with a front end 230 and rear end 240. Both the front end 230 and rear end 240 share a common cross-sectional shape 232.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a set of components in the iteration. The front end of a car 230 is engaged with a mid section 250 and a rear section 240. Each section comprises magnets 110 and 112 as described in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4. Although not visible, the rear surface of the front end 230 also comprises a pair of magnets as previously described. Positive and negative poles of magnets 110 and 112 arranged as shown in FIG. 4 allow each of the components in FIG. 6 to be engaged to make a variation of the vehicle in FIG. 5. Common cross sections 232 facilitate alignment and give an unbroken appearance to combined components. Additional arrangements of similar sets of components are illustrated in FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, having common cross sections 232 and common magnets 110/112 allowing similar engagement to that of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 while creating unique variations by combining various components.

The illustration if FIG. 10 depicts a combination of two identical items, car front ends 230, which are engaged at common cross sections 230. The configuration of the magnets allows engagement of both objects in this manner.

Other structural features as described above can be included in the structure employed in methods according to the instant subject matter. The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the instant subject matter. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above may be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and sub-combinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flow depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other embodiments or implementations may be within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A specific orientation of magnets within an object that allows the object to be engaged in a series of like objects and further allows one object in the series to be rotated one hundred and eighty degrees about its vertical axis and again magnetically engage with the series of like components comprising: at least two magnets each having a positive and negative end; the two magnets being substantially longitudinal with their axes parallel and the positive magnetic pole of the first magnet proximal to the negative pole of the at least second magnet, said magnets engaged in said manner with at least two objects, residing identical distances from a perimeter of said object with identical distances between magnets said objects having at least one common cross sectional shape on one side where magnetic poles are proximal.
 2. A method of engaging and re-orienting objects of claim 1 comprising: engaging at least three of said objects; one object having two opposing common cross-sectional shaped surfaces; removing the object with two opposing common cross-sectional-shaped surfaces; rotating the removed object one hundred and eighty degrees about the vertical axis and replacing said object in the series of at least three of said objects.
 3. The configuration of claim 1 wherein magnets are engaged with toy cars.
 4. The configuration of claim 1 wherein magnets are engaged with toy trains.
 5. The configuration of claim 1 wherein magnets are engaged with blocks. 